Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

This gallery features an overview of basic CPR and basic equipment used during resuscitation.

The precordial thump was first reported in medical journals in 1920 and has been used in the treatment of ventricular tachycardia and monitored ventricular fib. It has fallen in and out of favor over the decades. It is often used for dramatic effect in medical shows on TV and movies.

Dr. Peter Safar and Dr. James Elam are credited with the invention of the mouth-to- mouth resuscitation technique.
Dr. Safar is considered to be the "father of Modern Resuscitation."

In August 1958, Robert Berman filed a patent application for his "Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitator". The patent was awarded on March 12, 1963.

The modern cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique was developed in 1960.

This 1970 ad for A.H. Robins stressed the importance of CPR training for future physicians and health care providers.

A 1970s era pin available to recognize an individual certified in CPR is shown.

If you've been in respiratory care for any length of time, you've experienced a number of revisions to the recommended ratios for compressions to breaths delivered during CPR or compressions only recommendations.

The American Heart Association publishes and updates their guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care.

"Annie, Annie, are you OK?" Those words began every CPR training session....

The Reusci-Anne manikin was primarily used for CPR instruction but often was a participant in pranks pulled by the staff and students.

Resusci-Annie folded up like a contortionist for transport and storage.

Resusci-Anne's aneroid gauges visually indicated when proper tidal volumes and compressions were delivered.

An infant resuscitation manikin is shown.

Basic resuscitation equipment is shown.

Supplies for emergency intubation were often transported to emergency codes by the inhalation therapy staff in a tackle box. The contents were restocked after each use and the box relocked and checked on daily rounds.

This device was inserted between the clenched upper and lower teeth, when possible, and rotated to open a clenched mouth.

A variety of sizes of oropharyngeal airways are shown in this emergency kit.

For more images of oropharyngeal airways and related equipment, visit the Artificial Airways gallery.

The AMBU bag was developed in 1956.
For more images of bag-valve-mask resuscitators, visit the Resuscitators gallery.

Respiratory therapists and other highly skilled health care professionals may be required to intubate during emergency codes. A few ET tubes are shown.

A stylet may be inserted into an endotracheal tube to provide stability to the tube during intubation.

For more images of emergency airway equipment, visit the Artificial Airways gallery.

This respiratory therapist is shown positioning the endotracheal tube following endotracheal intubation.

During emergency intubation, confirmation of tube placement in the trachea rather than the esophagus is achieved using a CO2 indicator.

The Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) was developed by Dr. Archi Brain and has been in use since 1988. The supraglottic airway can be used for emergency airway management.

Portable oxygen equipment was transported for codes and resuscitation calls in sites without piped in oxygen.

Defibrillation was first utilized by Dr. Claude Beck, a cardiac surgeon in 1947.

A defibrillator from the late 1950s is shown.

The first crash carts at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas were donated in 1965 by Beech Aircraft.

A 1969 crash cart is pictured.

A Brunswick Heart Lung resuscitator circa 1973 is shown.

A Brunswick Heart Lung Resuscitator and case is shown.

A close-up of the HLR label is shown.

The HLR (Heart-Lung Resuscitator) is shown in use on a mannikin.

AED (automated external defibrillators) became available in the late 1980s and are now available in numerous public locations.

An AED electrode can be seen as CPR is performed on the patient.

Please contact us to contribute images to this gallery.